Comber man (29) dies in three-car collision

Comber man (29) dies in three-car collision

31 May 2023

A MAN died following a road accident involving three vehicles at the Glen Road in Comber last Friday morning.

He was 29 year-old Ryan Mervyn Corken, who lived in the Comber area. He died at the scene.

The accident was one of a number over the bank holiday weekend, with two on the Castlewellan Road in Newcastle on Sunday and one on the Ballyhornan Road outside Downpatrick on Monday morning.

Comber Alliance councillor Rachel Ashe extended her condolences to Mr Corken’s family.

“This is a horrible tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim and his family at this time,” she said.

“Sadly, this bank holiday weekend has brought a number of road traffic accidents to our town and this latest incident again highlights the need for everyone to exercise caution when using the roads.”

Cllr Ashe appealed to anyone who can assist police with their enquiries to come forward.

The man injured in the first accident reported outside Newcastle at 3am on Sunday remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the accident when the man, who is in his 40s, was injured.

Police investigations into the circumstances of the accident are continuing and they have issued an appeal for information to assist them with their enquiries.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the Castlewellan Road area during the early hours of Sunday or who may have any dashcam footage.

Anyone who can help is asked to get in touch via the non-emergency 101 number quoting reference number 297 of 28/05/23.

Emergency services also responded to the second accident later on Sunday morning, also at the Castlewellan Road, involving a car and a motorbike. 

As a result, part of the main road between the Tollymore and Carnacaville road junctions was closed.

The Air Ambulance was part of the emergency response team tasked to the scene on Castlewellan Road at around 10.22am.

One person was taken by ambulance to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald with the other airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

On Monday morning, the Ballyhornan Road outside Downpatrick was closed between the Ballycruttle Road and Crew Road junction following an accident.